[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 88 (Friday, June 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    FOREIGN RELATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT, FISCAL YEARS 2010 AND 2011

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                               speech of

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 10, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2410) to 
     authorize appropriations for the Department of State and the 
     Peace Corps for fiscal years 2010 and 2011, to modernize the 
     Foreign Service, and for other purposes.

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Chair, during consideration of H.R. 2410, the 
Foreign Relations Authorization Act, I voted for the Royce amendment 
regarding Eritrea. I know that Eritrea is sending a diplomatic 
delegation to the United States at the present time, and that sensitive 
negotiations are taking place in the region. It is my hope that Eritrea 
will dramatically change its policies as a result of this diplomatic 
action, and designation of Eritrea as a State Sponsor would be 
unnecessary. Had this provision been adopted in the House, it could 
have been (and would have been) removed from the bill in conference 
should such a change of policy come about. Therefore, I felt that the 
amendment was worthy of support at this stage of the legislative 
process notwithstanding the legitimate concerns raised by opponents of 
the amendment.

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